Flying-machine.



No. 869,019- I PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907. J. D. PURSELL. FLYING MACHINE.

APILIOATION FILED APB. 2,1907. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J'a znD. HaveZZ WITNESSES ATTORNEYS? PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.

.T. 1). PURSiELL.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1907- WITNESSES 6 BEEETs-SHEBT 2.

A TTOHNEYS No. 869,019 7 PATENTBD OG'I'. 22. 1907,

I. D. PURSELL. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2,1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES INI/ENIOH A TTOHA/E Y8 PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.

' J. D. PURSELL.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.2,1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES ATTOPNEYS No. 869,019. PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.

- J. n. PURSELL.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLIOATIVON FILED APB.8,1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET '5.

WITNESSES INVENTOH A TTOHNEYS No. 869,019. PATENTED OCT. 22, 1907.

J..D. PURSBLL. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.2,1907- 6 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

INVENTOR W/ TNE SSE S UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFl-Uln'i.

JOHN D. PURSELL, OF GHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed April 2, 1907. serial No. 355,963.

trolling, at all times, the center of gravity of the weight carried by the machine, and for controlling, also, the actionof the air currents upon the aeroplane.

The inventionconsists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan; Fig. 3 is substantially a side elevation of the machine, certain parts being shown in cross section; Fig. 4 is a vertical.

.' section through one of the wings of the machine, upon an enlarged scale, and illustrating the arrangement and operation of balance wings which assist in maintaining the equilibrium of the machinepFig. 5 is a plan of the middle portion of the machine and illustrating especially the construction of the machine at the operators position; this view also illustrates the adjusters or adjusting devices for controlling the equilibrium of the machine in a fore and aft and in a lateral direction; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view indicating the machine in elevation, and especially illustrating the means for controlling the equilibrium of the ma-.

chine in a lateral direction; and Fig. 7 is also a diagrammatic view but indicating the machine in side elevation and illustrating the arrangement .for controlling the equilibrium of the machine in a fore and aft direction.

Referring more particularly to the parts, and especially to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 1 represents the body frame which is mounted upon wheels adapted to run upon the ground. Above this'body frame 1 there is a superstructure 2 which comprises two box frames 3 and 4 which extend in opposite directions and are inclined upwardly toward their outer ends. These box frames are formed with light longitudinal bars 5 which are connected by suitable diagonal braces or tie wires 6, as indicated. Or. the upper sides of the box frames 3 and 4, aeroplanes 7 and 8 are respectively arranged, and similar aeroplanes 9 and-9 are arranged on the lower sides. Inorder to increase the rigidity of'the structure, the longitudinal bars 5 are connected at suitable intervals by stanchions 10 arranged as shown.

Just over the body frame 1 and between the aeroplanes 9 and 9, which are separated at their adjacent edges, a car 11 is formed, upon the bottom plate ]2 whereof a motor 13 is arranged. This motor is of any typev suitable for its purposes. From its shaft inclined driving shafts 14 and 15 extend upwardly in the box frames 3 and 4, and these shafts are connected through bevel gears 16 with screw shafts 17 and 18. Upon these shafts at the rear extremities thereof, screws 19 and2O are mounted respectively.- The parts are arranged so that the screws or propellers 19 and 20 are rotated in opposite directions. In this way any tend-- ency to tip the machine, due to the rotation of the propellers, is avoided.

At the rear of the frame 2, as indicated in Fig. 3, a

tail21 is pivotallymounted at 22. This tail is formed of a horizontal plate 23 and a vertical plate 24. The weight of the tail is substantially balanced by means of helical spring 25 arranged at the pivot 22. As illustrated, further, in Fig. 3, the forward side of the machine is provided with a bow frame 26 which comprises upwardly curved frame bars 27 and diagonals or braces 28. On these diagonals 28 there is pivotally mounted at 29 an adjuster plate 30, which plate is normally disposed in a substantially horizontal position as shown.

The purpose of this plate is to control the fore and aft equilibrium of the machine so that if the machine tends to tip up or down at the front, the plate 30 will be actuated so as to right the machine or bring it to its normal position of equilibrium. The arrangement to accomplish this object is clearly illustrated in 7, diagrammatically; in this connection, reference is also had to Fig.5. 4

At a suitable point, preferably near the motor, an adjusting device or adjuster 31 is mounted; as shownin Fig. 7, this adjuster comprises a barrel 32, hi h i f metal or similar conducting. material. The ends of this barrel are closed by insulating plugs'33, and in these plugs contacts or terminals 34 and 35 are mounted. The terminal 34 is connected by a conductor-.36 with an electro-magnet 37, and the terminal 35 is connected through a suitable conductor 38 with an electro-magnet 39. Beyond these electro-magnets 37 and 39 the conductors 36 and 38 unite and connect, through a conductor 40, with a battery 41 or similar source of current. The other side of this battery is connected by a conductor 42 with the metallic barrel 32. Between the cores of theelectro-magnets 37 and 39, an adjusting lever 43 is pivoted at 44. This lever is normally held in an intermediate position between the magnets by means of coiled springs 45 which are attached at opposite sides thereof, as shown. Adjacent to the free end of the lever 43, guide pulleys 46 and 47 are arranged.

' To the rear end of the adjuster plate 30 and on the lower side thereof, an adjusting cord 48 is attached.

This cord extends downwardly, passing under a guide pulley 49 near the forward lower part of the machine. and at this point the cord passes rearwardly and around the rear side of the guide pulley 47, thence it passes forwardly and is attached to the rear side of the lever 43- as indicated. Behind the point of attachment of the cord 48, a cord 56 is attached to the upper side of the adjuster plate 30. This cord extends upwardly around a guide pulley 51 attached to one'of the diagonals 28, and at this point the cord passes rearwardly around a suitable guide pulley 52 at the rear of the frame, and

from this point the cord 50 passes downwardly and is attached to the tail at the point 53. Opposite thepoint of attachment of the cord 48 with the lever 43, a cord 54 is attached. This cord passes forwardly around the guide pulley 46, whence it passes rearwardly over a guide pulley 55 which is arranged on a post 56 which extends downwardly at the rear of the frame near the pivot point 22 of the tail. From this guide pulley 55 the cord 54 passes rearwardly and is attached at 57 to the'under side of the tail, as shown in Fig. 7.

Within the barrel 32 there is a bath 58 of mercury or similar conductive liquid, and the level'of this bath, when the machine is in equilibrium, is below the contacts or terminals 34 and 35. On this account, the circuit through the battery is normally. opened. It the forward end of the flying machine should become depressed for any reason, the mercury bath 58 runs to the forward end of the barrel 32, and if the depression is sufficient, it will touch the contact 34. When it does so, a circuit is closed from the battery 41'through the mercury bath and through the electro-magnet 37 back to the battery through the conductor 40. In this way the armature lever 43 is drawn toward the left; this takes up or pulls in the cord 48, raising the forward end of the adjuster plate 30. In this way a greater resistance is offered at the front of the machine, which tends to bring the machine to its normal position of equilibrium. The forward movement of the lever 43 operates to give out some of thecord 54, which would permit an upward movement of the tail. Furthermore, an upward movement of the tail is broughtabout by the downward movement of the rear portion of the plate 30. The taking up of the cord 50 elevates the rear end of the tail. Elevating the tail in this way reduces the resist-' ance at the rear of themachine so that the righting of the machine is assisted at this point. Should the forward end of the machine become eleyated, an opposite action produces a similar result. The balance of the machine in a lateral direction is maintained very largely by the inclined position of the aeroplane, as shown in Fig. 1. By referring to this figure, it will be observed that if the outer end of one of the box frames or aeroplanes becomes depressed, it will at once offer a greater resistance to the air on this side so that forces are brought into operation tending to bring the machine back to ite normal position. However, I provide automatic devices for assisting in maintaining the lateral equilibrium. I I

Referring, now, especially to Figs. 1 and 4: The aeroplanes 7, 8, 9 and 9 are provided with balance v wings 59. As illustrated in Fig; 4, these balance wings are normally curved so that they present their convex sides upwardly. Their forward edges 60 are attached to the forward bars of the box-frames, and in the position shown in Fig. 4, they conform to the outline of the aeroplanes. In this connection itshould be understood that the aeroplanes are also curved, but maintain a constant or fixedposition with respect to the frame of the machine.

In Fig. 6, the wings 59 are represented in an unnatural position. They are apparently hinged at their outer edges and project toward the central axis of the machine at their free edges. It should be understood, however, thatthese wings are hinged at their forward edges and project rearwardly. The arrangement shown in Fig. 6 is adopted simply to illustrate diametrically the manner in which the wings are raised and lowered to control the machine. There are two of the balance wings 59 in each of the aeroplanes. At the rear portions of the balance wings links 61 and 62 are pivoted together. The links 61 at their upper ends are attached pivotallyto the balance wings, while the links 62 are attached pivotally at their upper ends to the rear longitudinal bars of the frame. At the pivot point 63 between the links 62 and the frame, springs 64 are provided, which tend to-rotate the links 62 upwardly in such a way that the wings 59 will tend to hold themselves in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. The action of these springs 64 is resisted by cords 65 which are attached to the under sides of the wings as shown. These cords 65 extend downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 6, and are united to main cords 66 and 67. The cord 66 comes from the right of the ma cl1ine,while the cord 67 comes from the left. Near the points Where the cords 65 connect with the cords 66 and 67, they pass around guide pulleys 68 at the lower part of the box frames as indicated. The cord 66 passes the central axis of the machine and passes around a guide pulley 69; and a similar guide pulley 70 is arranged opposite to this guide pulley, about which the cord 67 passes. These cords then extend toward the central axis of the machine and are attached respectively to levers 71 and 72. The levers 71 and 72 have upwardly extending arms 73'and 74 respectively, and to these arms helical springs 75 are attached which tend to hold the levers 71 and 72 adjacent to each other. In the space between the levers 71 and 72 an armature lever 76 is arranged, said armature lever being substantially similar to the armature lever 43 described above. The upper end of this lever is free, however, and simply lies in the space between the levers 71 and 7 2. On op posite sides of the armature lever helical springs 77 are attached, which tend to hold the lever in an intermediate position between electro-magnets 78 and 79. At

justing device 80 is provided, which is similar tothe adjusting device or adjuster 31 described above. Referring to Fig. 6, this adjuster comprises abarrel 81 of a metal or similar conducting material, the ends of the said barrel being closed by insulating plugs 82. In these plugs 82 contacts or terminals 83 and 84 are respectively attached, and a mercury bath 85 is placed in the barrel. A battery 86 or similar source of current is provided, and a conductor 87 connects this battery with the barrel 81. The contact or terminal 83 is connected, through a suitable conductor 88, with the electro-magnet 78, and a similar conductor 89 connects the contact 84 with the electro-magnet 7 9; and beyond the electromagnets 78 and 79, the conductors connect, through a a suitable point in the forward part of the car, an adaction of this adjuster is very similar 'juster 31 described above.

conductor 90, with however, is arranged in a transverse or lateral direction, so that ii the left side of the machine is depressed, as viewed in Fig. 6, the mercury will touch the contact 83 and close a circuit through the electro-magnet 78. The

armature lever 76 will then be attracted and move toward the left; in doing so, its free end strikes the lever 71 and the cord 66 becomes sla'ckened. When .the cord 66 is slackened, the balance wings on the right hand aeroplanes are allowed to rise by the action of their springs 64. These balance wings then move into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig; 4, so that the resistance on their upper sides is increased. The wind pressure on the upper sides then tends to depress thisside of the machine, and the equilibrium is restored. A similar action takes place if the machine should tend to become depressed'at its right side. In the car 11 a transverse frame-bar 91 is provided, and at the point 92 at the middle of this bar a seat lever 93 is mounted to swing in a horizontal plane, the rear end of the lever being supported on a cross bar 94. This lever is formed with a longitudinal slot 95 in which a seat 96 is slidably mounted. The operator ol the flying machine sits upon the seat 96, and by sliding the same forward or aft, he may adjust the position oi his weight as desired. By rotating the seat lever 93 toward the right or toward the left, the operator may throw hi s weight on eithenside of the central axis of the machine so as to assist the operation of the balancing devices and restore the equilibrium. This movable seat is provided to govern the angle and direction of flight, in addition to control of equilibrium. If the aeronautmoves to the right, the machine steers to the right andvice versa. The automatic devices restore the equilibrium but not before the desired changein direction has taken place. The

aeroplanes have preferably the form of a parabola, the

curveof the parabola being disposed forwardly.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A flying machine having a frame with aeroplanes,

curved balance wings attached at their forward edges to" said frame, and automatic means for raising or lowering the rear portions of said balance wings, actuated by the tilting of said machine.

2.- A flying machine having aeroplanes, movable balance the other side of the battery. The to that of the ad- 5 edges of said balance wings. The barrel, in this instance,

l l l l l :idnpied to be closed at eitlier of plate at the front wings fixed at their forward edges and having free rear edges, and automatic mechanism for adjusting the free it. A flying machine having balance wings curved and li.\'o(l at their forward portions, said wings being free at lheir rear edges, 'and automatic mechanism for adjusting the roar edges of said wings actuated by the tilting of said machine -i. A flying machine having, a frame, balance wings atinched to said frame at their forward edges. means con.- nocliug: the rear portions of said wings with said frame and lending to raise said wings. and automatic means for lo\\'cl'ln;. said wings at the rear controlled by the tilting of the said machine 5. A llying machine having movable adjusting plates, a

bath of conducting material, electric circuits closed'by said bath, and electrical balancing devices controlling the positions of said adjusting plates when said machine is outpf its normal position.

(3. in n flying machine, in combination, a receptacle cout aiuing a conductive bath and having insulated contacts normally above the ieveirof said .bath,.an electric circuit .aid terminals by said bath when said flying; machine til's. and electrically-controlled balanring devices for restoring said machine to its normal posllion.

T. A flying machine having box frames connected togelher at their inner ends and inclining upwardly toward their outer ends, aeroplanes attached to the upper-and lower sides of said frames, movable balance wings mounted in said aeroplanes, and automatic means for controlling said balance wings by the tilting of said machine.

ii. A flying-machine having a pair of aeroplanes at iached at their inner ends and inclining upwardly toward their outer ends, balance wings in said aeroplanes, and means for automatically controlling said balance wings by the position of said machine.

9. A flying machine having a pair of aeroplanes attached together at their inner ends and inclining upwardly at their outer ends. movable balance wings in said aeroplanes, a movable tail at the rear and a movable adjuster of said machine, and, automatic devices forh-ontrollina said balance wings, said adjuster plate and said tail.

10. A flying machine having a frame, an aeroplane carried thereby, a movable bar pivoted to said frame and carrying aseat for the operator. H

11. A flying machine having :1 frame, an aeroplane carried thereby, a pivoted bar on said frame, and a seat sliding on said. bar and adapted to hold the operator.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN D. PURSELL.

Witnesses WILL S. (lmscon, IRWiN -N. l'mcn. 

